Pursuing the statistics, one would say that 49ers’ running back Carlos Hyde had a good afternoon in the one-sided loss to Carolina. He rushed for 45 yards on nine carries and caught six passes for another 32 yards. However, Hyde, by my accounting, only broke two tackles and only evaded two defenders. By contrast, wide …

“That’s not right because he did everything that he was supposed to do,” Whitner said. “It’s not his fault that Drew Brees is a little guy and can’t really take a hit. But that’s football. And that really would have won the football game for us. With three minutes left in the game, we get one first down. Even if we have had to punt we feel like we would have won that football game. So we feel like it cost us a game.” …

McLeod Bethel-Thompson, the 49ers’ fourth No. 3 quarterback since training camp, was released today to make room for wide receiver Michael Crabtree on the roster. On Monday, of course, Jim Harbaugh said Crabtree would be moved from the physically unable to perform list to the 53-man roster today. …

James actually spent plenty of time on the sideline at FedEx Field. He played just three offensive snaps, didn’t have a carry and dropped the only pass tossed his way. That’s not what the two-time All-American at Oregon envisioned when the 49ers drafted him the second round in 2012, but he knows from recent experience matters could be worse. …

Brooks, along with the rest of the 49ers defense, swarmed Washington’s offense and rendered Robert Griffin III ineffective. Mike Shanahan called it the toughest defense his team had faced this season. …

The Niners will move Michael Crabtree from the physically unable to perform list to the 53-man roster Tuesday, the deadline for the team to make such a move. Crabtree could be inactive for Sunday’s game against the visiting Rams if the 49ers don’t feel he’s ready for game action just over six months after he sustained a torn Achilles. …